Zuckerberg promises encryption on 'privacy-focused' Facebook

Facebook's chief has promised to transform privacy on the social networking platform, with new encryption that even the site's bosses cannot penetrate.

In a blog post, Mark Zuckerberg said he plans to combine his Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram messaging services so users will be able to contact each other across all of them.

He wrote: "Over the last 15 years, Facebook and Instagram have helped people connect with friends, communities, and interests in the digital equivalent of a town square.

"But people increasingly also want to connect privately in the digital equivalent of the living room.

"As I think about the future of the internet, I believe a privacy-focused communications platform will become even more important than today's open platforms.

"Privacy gives people the freedom to be themselves and connect more naturally, which is why we build social networks."

His multi-year plan would see all Facebook-owned messaging apps be encrypted so that only the sender and recipient could see messages between them.

The feature is already part of WhatsApp but the other apps do not have this.

Zuckerberg said it would be like being in a living room behind a closed door and not having to worry about anyone eavesdropping.

Facebook and Instagram, meanwhile, would continue to operate the way they do now, with people sharing whatever they want.

(SKY NEWS)